Ask your kids what they think of mining and they’ll probalby say it’s a dirty business or it tears up the land and leaves a mess behind. Or perhaps they’ll tell you mines are always in conflict over lands claimed by aboriginal people.
Clearly, the importance of the resource sector to the future of the Northwest Territories is being overlooked by the public and policy-makers.
What kids and adults are not hearing is that mining has played a key role in developing the north, and indeed most of Canada. Minerals are what attracted most non-aboriginal residents to the Northwest Territories. The radium and uranium mines on Great Bear Lake started the influx of southerners in the 1930s. The discovery of gold in the Yellowknife area in the 1940s resulted in the formation of that city. Likewise, Pine Point, Nanisivik, Polaris and Lupin all contributed greatly to the development of the north.
Our communities, if they existed at all, would look quite different without the mineral industry.
Unfortunately, what we are more likely to hear or read today is that our industry is embroiled in some land conflict with an aboriginal group.
The Northwest Territories Chamber of Mines has initiated efforts to involve northern aboriginal peoples more fully in our industry. For example, the Chamber is involved in the Mine Training Committee, a partnership of aboriginal groups, mining and exploration companies and educators that advises the minister of education on the design and delivery of training programs to allow aboriginal northerners to take advantage of job opportunities in mining.
The Chamber, along with aboriginal business partners, has been working on a proposal to encourage more participation in the industry by aboriginal development corporations from both the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. In short, it is encouraging more aboriginal northerners to become part of the mining industry.
For example, mining companies have contributed millions of dollars to the West Kitikmeot-Slave Study Society, a partnership of governments, aboriginal groups and the mining industry which has been gathering environmental data on the Slave Province. This is in addition to the millions already spent by companies on environmental and archaeological studies. In fact, one company employs a full-time archaeologist.
Our industry has changed and continues to change. We are concerned about the environment and want our environmental regulations to be the best in the world. Unfortunately, we are plagued by the legacy of the Giant mine, built more than 50 years ago at a time when regulations were much less stringent than they are today. However, throughout its history, Giant operated in compliance with government permits, so surely regulators and society as a whole must shoulder some of the blame for past mistakes. The mining industry is tired of being blamed for all the ills of the past.
But Yellowknife would not be here without Giant; it’s that simple. In addition to the jobs and business opportunities provided by Giant, this mine and its employees paid corporate and income taxes, property taxes and royalties for more than half a century. The balance sheet is in favour of the mine even if it looks as if we are now faced with a large bill for cleanup.
Yellowknife, as we know it, won’t be here for our next generations unless we work harder at promoting the benefits of the mining industry.
For starters, we need to tell our schools to teach a balanced curriculum about development versus conservation. Students need to know that trades and technical jobs are honourable and rewarding ways to earn a living.
We need to tell our territorial government to work harder at encouraging investment. In particular, the government needs to provide a policy framework and tax regime that allow industry to pay its fair share of taxes but that clearly identify the government’s responsibility for delivering social programs. It simply does not make sense for each mining project to have to negotiate terms for training, job and business opportunities. Tell us what the rules are, write them down and stick to them.
We need to tell the federal government to re-establish the budget for northern geoscience programs. Geoscience spending by government is key to encouraging exploration. Recent efforts by Quebec and Manitoba in this area have paid huge dividends in increased exploration, as well as some positive discoveries.
The Northwest Territories stands on the threshold of some exciting developments. For example, the diamond industry continues to look favourable, and oil and gas continue to offer major opportunities. Also, we are beginning to see an increase in interest in gold and base metals after three painful years of market jitters and low prices.
We should be doing cartwheels down Franklin Avenue in celebration of our mineral wealth, but mineral potential must be well-managed if we are to benefit.
We need to understand that we operate in a global economy and that the technological advances of tomorrow could mean either boom or bust for certain commodities. On my desk is an article detailing recent successes in the manufacture of artificial diamonds. The only drawback is that they cost more than mined diamonds. How long before someone discovers how to manufacture them cheaply?
It’s fine to say “the diamonds will always be there.” But will it always be economically feasible to mine them, and will diamond mining always provide the jobs, business opportunities and tax revenue northerners need to become self-sufficient?
What’s especially needed is a review of the regulatory environment in the north. If we don’t speak out in support of the mineral industry of the north now, we’ll have to teach our kids Spanish, because that’s where they’ll have to go to find a future.
— The preceding is from a speech presented to the Yellowknife chapter of the Rotary Club. The author is the general manager of the Northwest Territories Chamber of Mines.
Be the first to comment on "Mining needs an image boost"